Thus prepared, he sailed once more for Hispaniola. There a
small, stout boat was built, and with it and a crew of Indian divers
the tender was despatched to the reef where the wreck was said to be.
The tender was anchored in good holding-ground at a safe distance from
the reef, and the men then rowed slowly in the boat around it,
carefully examining the depths below for signs of the wrecked galleon.
The waters in the West Indies are very clear, and during a calm objects
can be seen at a considerable depth. The rocks were of singular form,
rising nearly to the surface, but with sides so steep that any vessel
striking them would be liable to go down many fathoms below the reach
of the most expert diver. The only hope was that the wreck might have
lodged on some projecting ledge. But the closest observation, long
continued, failed to reveal any sign of the object so eagerly sought,
although the water was perfectly calm.
[Illustration: CAPTAIN PHIPS THREATENS TO SAIL AWAY FROM THE MUTINEERS.]
At length; a curious sea-plant cropping out of a crevice in the sides
of the reef caught the eye of one of the crew, and he sent down an
Indian to bring it up.
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